Hariri attacks Hezbollah as political crisis in Lebanon deep

Hariri attacks Hezbollah as political crisis in Lebanon deepens

By Rima Maktabi and Tim Lister, CNN

February 14, 2011 3:33 p.m. EST

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Beirut, Lebanon (CNN) -- In an emotional speech to thousands of supporters in Beirut, former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri issued a direct challenge Monday to the Shiite Hezbollah movement, saying that the Lebanese people can no longer bury their heads in the sand in the face of Hezbollah's weapons.

Hariri was speaking on the sixth anniversary of the assassination of his father, Rafik Hariri, who was prime minister for 10 years between 1992 and 2004. At times in tears, he told the rally that his father was killed because "he said 'no' to changing the Arab, democratic, free and sovereign Lebanon."

Saad Hariri was prime minister until last month, but his government was brought down by Iranian-backed Hezbollah and its allies. He told supporters that his movement is now ready to move into opposition because it values truth and justice over power. Efforts are continuing to form a new government, but Hariri's speech Monday ended speculation that his March 14th block will play any role in it.

Analysts describe the speech as a watershed in Lebanese politics, where there are now two polarized camps with shrinking space for compromise.

Confronting Hezbollah, which is branded as a terrorist organization by the United States, Hariri said the issue of its weapons is not related to the right of the Lebanese people to face Israeli aggression "but to the excessive use" of the weapons "in resolving political differences."

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